Clement Temile is a household name not only in Nigeria and the African continent but also in Europe, as far as the round leather game is concerned.
A winger extraordinaire, Temile was a defender’s nightmare. With his silky dribbling skills, precise ball control and a speed of light, he shattered the toughest of defences.
After playing for several clubs in Nigeria, first, with the defunct Flash Flamingoes in 1982, Temile left the shores of the country for greener pastures in 1987, after which he stopped competitive football for fear of the unforeseen.
He said: “In my life, I don’t regret doing things or taking decisions. But what I could say was my regret in life was stopping football early.
“I remember that I had a groin injury while in Europe and was to go for an operation; but I was told the chances of my playing again were 50:50.
“The doctors said I could play again after the operation, and may not be able to play again. So I feared the risk of having the operation, and I did not. That was how I stopped playing.”
He recalled the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and said memories of the competition linger in his heart.
He said: “Abidjan ’84 was great for me and the national team. I remember our group match against Malawi. We were 0-2, down and our chances of qualifying for the second round seem to be in danger. But within two minutes, I grabbed a brace and the match ended 2-2. That was enough to give us the second round ticket.
“We went on to qualify for the final against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Though we lost the match 1-3, we put in our very best.
“That was the only Nations Cup competition that I played for Nigeria and I ended it by winning the Golden Boot.
“That was the first time in the history of the competition for such award. I also played lots of qualifiers ahead of the FIFA World Cup.”
Despite his exploits at home and abroad, his best moment as a footballer was the day he earned his first invitation to the national team in 1982.
“It was amazing. That was when I met the likes of Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi and Best Ogedengbe – stars we used to see on TV.
“I met them and it was amazing. It really changed my lifestyle and way of thinking. It made me feel superior and confident,” said he.
According to him, there are lots of differences between their days of playing for the country and now.
His words: “Our football is going down because it is not growing at all; but it can be improved upon by all coming together for a common goal.
“In our days, we were contented playing for the country, not just for the money, unlike today. The difference is very clear.
“The urge to play is no longer there, maybe because of the organisation and lack of support.”
He, however, advised up-and-coming players to be dedicated and loyal, with honesty as their watchword.
Temile, now the chairman of Concerned Stakeholders Group of Nigeria Football Players in the country and in diaspora, added that the players should learn from mistake of past players who did not plan for the future.
“They should not do what we did in our days. They should save for the rainy day and learn from our mistakes.”
Temile’s fact file
• Started competitive football with the defunct Flash Flamengoes of Warri, Delta State (1982)
• Moved to Bendel Insurance of Benin (1983)
• Played for defunct NNPC also of Warri
• Played for IICC of Ibadan
• Played for Abiola Babes of Abeokuta
• Left Abiola Babes to join BCC Lions of Gboko and from there left Nigeria to play professional football in Europe
• Played for Beitar Netanya FC in Israel
• Played for Olympiakos Nicosia of Cyprus
• Appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying match (1984)
• Successful coaching stint at Kentish Town, an English Non-league football side
• Member of the Nigerian team to the FIFA Confederation Cup in China tagged ‘China Great Wall Cup’ in 1985
• Voted the Tournament’s Best Player winning the Golden Boot
• Won the Challenge Cup with Abiola Babes, and they came out as runners-up when they played against Leventis United in the final match played at the main bowl of the National Stadium
• Also won the National League title with Abiola Babes
• Won the bronze medal with Bendel Insurance in the WAFU Cup Runners-up in another edition of the WAFU Cup with Abiola Babes
• Now a UEFA A-licensed coach